INSTRUCTIONS: HOCKEY DUEL! USA VS CANADA
Team Play - 1v1, 2v2, or odd combinations such as 1v3
Object: Before starting, pick your team (Canada or USA). Be on the first team to score 4 goals to win!
The Cards: The deck consists of two types of cards: Round Cards (7) and Game Cards (60). Round Cards have a blue back, while Game Cards have an orange back. Additionally, there are two white cards that provide quick-start information on basic rules and gameplay. The Game Cards include Item Cards (48), Penalty Cards (6), and Swipe Cards (6). See samples below:
Round Card
Game: Item
Game: Swipe
Game: Penalty
Playing Item Cards Properly:
Each Item Card shows one-quarter of two different items—one on the top and one on the bottom. One is part of a Canadian item, and the other is part of a USA item.
On your turn, play a card by connecting it to the cards already in play. Every touching side must match correctly.
If you cannot play a matching card, discard one card from your hand instead.
Pick Your Side: Canada or USA
Before the game begins, every player must choose a team: Team Canada or Team USA.
Each team must have at least one player. The game will not work if everyone chooses the same team.
Teams alternate turns throughout the game. Within each team, players also take turns in order. If one team has fewer players, its players will take turns more frequently.
For example, with three players on Team Canada and one player on Team USA, the turn order would be:
-
Team Canada — Player 1
-
Team USA — Player 1
-
Team Canada — Player 2
-
Team USA — Player 1
-
Team Canada — Player 3
-
Team USA — Player 1
Continue following this same order for the rest of the game.
Reveal Round 1’s Goal:
Shuffle the seven Round Cards (blue backs), then turn over the top card to reveal the goal for Round 1.
The first team to complete its assigned item wins the round. Some Round Cards favor Team Canada, while others favor Team USA. During a Canada Power Play, Canada has multiple items it can complete to win, while the USA has only one. The reverse applies during a USA Power Play.
In the example below, Team USA must complete the USA Puck, while Team Canada must complete the Canada Puck.
The team that wins the round keeps the Round Card to track its score.
The first team to collect four Round Cards wins the game!
Shuffle/Deal Game Cards:
Shuffle the 60 Game Cards (orange back) and deal four to each player. Players should hold their cards in a way that prevents opponents from seeing them. Place the remaining Game Cards face down in the center of the table to form the Draw Pile.
Starting the Game (Round 1):
The youngest player goes first (they represent their team, either Canada or US), and turns alternate between the two countries. Within the same country's team, player alternate in a clockwise fashion.
At the start of each turn, the players draws one card from the Draw Pile or from the top of the Discard Pile if it is an Item Card. On your first turn, you may select any Item Card to be your 'Start' card. Place this card face up in front of you to begin your Play Area. Ensure there is enough space around your Start Card, as you will be connecting additional cards to your Play Area throughout the game. Keep in mind, the object is to complete the Round's Goal (for the country you're playing for)!
Each player must start their own play area, before potentially playing on a teammate (as to help them finish the goal first).
Playing the Game:
After the Start Turn, play one Item Card by connecting it vertically or horizontally to a card in your play area—or a teammate’s play area. All touching sides must match correctly.
Work together to complete a hockey item by connecting all four of its pieces. Your goal is to complete your team’s Round Goal Item before the opposing team completes theirs.
If you cannot play a card, discard any card from your hand into the Discard Pile next to the Draw Pile.
Once a card has been played, it cannot be moved unless an opponent uses a Swipe Play. You may shift the entire card layout to create more room, but all cards must remain in the same positions relative to one another.
After you play or discard one card, your turn ends and the opposing team takes its turn. If a team has multiple players, teammates alternate turns in clockwise order.
Continue playing until a player completes one of their team’s goals shown on the Round Card. See the example below.
Penalty Cards:
On your turn, you may play an 'Penalty Card,' which allows you to skip the other team's next turn. It allows your team to go again.
Swipe Cards:
On your turn, you may play a 'Swipe Card' to take an opponent’s played item card then use it to connect to your or your teammate's play area. Cards in an opponent's hand are protected and cannot be Swiped. The Swipes cards mention one particular Item such as "Swipe: USA Player". In the example below, the Swipe Putter card is player. If your opponent has played down any club card that contains "The Putter", you may swipe it, then play the card on your play area.
Play Swipe Card
Swipe Opponent's Card
Play on your area.
Winning the Round:
Once the first round is won, the winning team gets to keep the round card so they can keep track of their wins! Collect all the game cards, shuffle, then deal 4 cards to each player - just as we did before when we started the game. Reveal the next Round Card, and this becomes the goals for each team for this round. The player who was going to be the next turn (just before a team won the prior round) gets to start this round. Keep the turn order in tact as it provides fairness.
End of the Game & Winning:
The first team to score 4 goals (best 4 out of 7) is the winner of the game!
Questions:
1. What do we do with "Penalty" Cards for our own team? They are worthless as you can not give your own team a penalty., You have the option on your turn so instead of playing down an Item Card, you can play down your unusable Penalty Card to the discard pile (next to the draw pile). You do waste a turn doing this, so make sure this is your best strategy for your turn.
2. What happens if I complete an item that is not listed as one of the goals for the round? Nothing. Play continues, and its the next team's turn. This action might help you as by having more cards played you would potentially have more options to play that could lead you to complete the goal for the round.